Akeld Manor stands within 36 acres of the Northumbria National Park, with easy access to the quiet and magical Cheviot Hills but with sandy beaches (and Holy Island) only 30 minutes' drive away. It is close to the eight very comfortable holiday cottage conversions of one-time farm buildings that make up Akeld Cottages, but it feels very private.

Among many good things, Akeld Manor has a farmhouse type kitchen with an oil-fired, four-door Aga and a superb dining room, with dining space for 15. There's a very cosy TV snug, with an Adam designed, carved, light oak fire surround containing a working fire, and a tasteful, enormous drawing room, with a working Adam fireplace matching the former. The master bedroom is very large, with a small sitting area and a TV. A single bedroom adjoins this room, which can be used either in conjunction with the master bedroom or as a single room in its own right utilising a second from the main landing.

Writes The Good Holiday Cottage Guide: 'This is an exceptional house, with a very big regular following. We've admired it for many years. The main house of the original estate, sleeping up to 15, it's is a real showpiece. within a one acre walled garden. With eight bedrooms, it's a superb venue for family gatherings, old friends' reunions, small seminars, wedding celebrations, walking parties and more.'